Illuminated sign



March 17, 1953 w. soPocKo ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Feb. 20, 1951 INVENTORATTORNEYS.

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Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATED SIGNWitold Sopocko, Plioenixville, Pa. 7

' Application. February 20, 1951, Serial Naeusw This invention relatesprimary object of the invention being to provide an illuminated signwhich may be either in the form of a house number, advertising sign orthe like, which is so constructed and arranged that while indicia on thesign will be clearly visible by persons moving in proximity to the sign,the indicia of the sign will be obscured from view from points above theign, thereby shielding the light rays from the sign and preventing thelight rays from constituting an illuminated target for enemy bombing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated signprovided with a movable shield extended over the display side of thesign, so that the remainder of light rays projected from the sign may becovered against visibility from above and regulated to meet variousrequirements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an illuminated sign, constructedin accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating one corner of theadjustable shield, showing the operating means for the shield. 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the finger piece asmounted on the rod for adjusting the shade.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the illuminated sign comprises abox-like body portion or casing 5 the back thereof being closed by meansof the removable closure 6.

The front of the body portion is formed with an upper display opening Iand a lower display opening 8 rovided by means of the transversepartition 9 which is substantially wide and disposed within the bodyportion, the partition terminating hort of the removable closure 6, sothat light rays may pass from the space below the partition 9, to thespace above the partition 9 illuminating the compartments formed aboveand below the partition 9.

The reference character I0 indicates a pane of to illuminated igns, theI glass material which covers the upper display opening I, while a paneof glass II covers the lower display opening 8, the panes of glass I0and I I being backed up by the opaque sign plates I2 that are securedwithin a recess formed in the edges of the display openings, as clearlyshown by Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The indicia or sign characters may be painted or otherwise placed on theouter surfaces of the sign plates I2, as shown at l3, and the indicia orsign characters are outlined by lines of perforations indicated at I4 sothat light rays may pass through the perforations, rendering the indiciaor sign characters clearly visible at night, as well as in the daylight.

The translucent plate I2 is positioned against the rear surface of theplate I2, which may be colored to vary the degree of translucency of theplate I2 to meet various requirements of use.

The reference character I5 indicates a shield which includes endsections l6 that depend from the shield I5, the end sections operatingthrough slots II formed in the front wall l8 of the sign, the shieldbeing operated from a point exteriorly of the body portion.

Ears I9 extend from the shield and are provided with openings throughwhich the operating rod 20 extends, the rod being provided with threadedends on which the knurled finger pieces 2| are secured, the knurledfinger pieces operating to set up a binding action between the shieldand edges of the slots 11, to hold the shield in various angularpositions of adjustment, with respect to the front of the display sign.

Mounted within the compartment formed below the transverse partition 9,is the electric lamp 22 mounted in the lamp socket 23 secured to thewall of the casing. The reference character 24 indicates wires that leadfrom the source of electricity supply, and provide a circuit with thelamp 22. The switch 25 is in the circuit with the lamp 22, and aifordsmeans whereby the electric circuit may be completed or broken, tocontrol the lighting of the lamp 22.

Extending inwardly at the upper portion of the casing, is the horizontalpartition 26 which provides a compartment with the upper curved top ofthe casing, in which the dry battery 2! is mounted, the dry batterybeing in circuit with the lamp 28 which is mounted in the socket 29secured to the partition 26, there being provided a switch 32 in circuitwith the lamp 28, whereby the lamp 23 may be illuminated, should theline supplying current to the lamp 22 become inoperative.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shownand described, I have provided an illuminated sign having lighting meansdisposed therein illuminating indicia formed on the body portion, and ahinged shield mounted on the body portion and movable with respect tothe indicia, obscuring the indicia from view from a point above the bodyportion.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed is:

An illuminated sign comprising a body por- 10 tion including a lightcompartment having a display opening in the front wall thereof, andhaving vertical slots extending through the front wall at the ends ofthe display opening, a shield movable over the display opening, saidshield 15 shield section, said body having openings align- 20 4 ing withthe openings of the ears, a rod secured within the openings of the earsand passing through the aligning openings of the body, therebysupporting the shield on the body portion, and a knurled finger piecesecured to one end of the rod effecting movement of the rod and shieldadjusting said shield towards and away from the body over said displayopening.

7 I WITOLD SOPOCKO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Morrison Oct. 9, 1923

